“Red weddings” appear to be growing a niche market in China, just as revolution-themed restaurants and red songs. To the young love birds, the undertakings and reputations of the political figures involved simply are not a point of concern. Last month, The New York Times reported that 100 couples applied for 50 spots to participate in a mass wedding taking place in front of a 33-foot bronze statue of Chairman Mao in his hometown, Shaoshan. In 2011, an 80s-generation couple held a Cultural Revolution style wedding where they dressed up as Red Guards and cheerfully waved the Little Red Book.

Power Play

Flag of the Chinese Communist Party (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Founders of a brand new political party in China filed a lawsuit against the Beijing Ministry of Civil Affairs last week, after the ministry surprisingly declared that the Zhixian—or Supreme Constitution—Party, violated existing laws by carrying out activities as an unregistered “social organization.”

The Zhixian Party was a solemn attempt to promote rule of law by fans of the fallen corrupt politician Bo Xilai, known for the lawlessness of his heavy-handed gang-busting campaign in Chongqing and initiatives to revive the red culture of the Cultural Revolution, the most lawless period in the PRC history. Bo was dignified “Chairman for Life”, a laurel that would easily elicit feelings of jealousy from President Xi Jinping, who’s limited to two short five-year-terms. In due process, Bo was notified of his elevation from behind the bars in a letter delivered to his lawyer.

Founders of Zhixian were clearly displeased with their party, a political entity, being labeled a mere “social organization.” In a bold power play, Zhixian Party issued a formal announcement rescinding the ministry’s decision to outlaw the party. The Chinese Constitution only prohibits opposition to the CCP, one of the founders said, but not the establishment of new political parties which, manifestly, is a downright different matter.

Not hard to guess what the official response would be, but let’s quote the spokesman for the mysterious United Front Work Department of the CCP Central Committee, at a Q&A session in 2011: “The Communist Party of China and eight democratic parties essentially represent all social classes and groups. The multiparty cooperation system has a broad coverage. Therefore there is no need to establish new political parties.”

Smog-inspired Creativity

Smog over China (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is often said that the Chinese are not innovative. But those with that thought would take it back if they know of Chinese citizens’ unbounded creativity in fighting air pollution.

One anti-smog initiative that’s gained traction last week was to use cigarette butts as filters by placing them in one’s nostrils. A dedicated reporter at Guangzhou Daily News took it upon himself to test its effectiveness, and here’s his verdict: “As expected, with the cigarettes butts in the nose, I could not smell anything else, because [my nostrils] were filled with the smell of tobacco. For someone who doesn’t smoke, that smell makes one feel worse than does PM 2.5.”

If that doesn’t work, one can perhaps try “anti-smog aerobics,” a set of 23 Taichi-like moves invented by officials at a primary school in Hebei, one of the most polluted provinces in China. Two of the moves allegedly can push the “qi”, roughly translated as air in the body, in ways that expel exhaust gas (if you wish to practice, follow the moves here). Other collective outdoor activities such as the national flag raising ceremony on Mondays also had to be moved indoors. At a school in Hangzhou, students were ordered to salute to the image of a national flag on TV in their classrooms.

This is the third of a series of weekly collections of bizarre things happening in China – things that are not only strange to the western audience but also to the Chinese eyes, and reflect some kind of ingrained social or political issues in China. For last week's bizarre China report, see here.